Texas · Deadline to sue · Updated Oct 2026

Deadline to sue after a car accident in Texas

Time limits, government claims and a calculator.

Short answer

In Texas, you generally have 2 years from the crash to sue, for car damage and for an injury. To sue a Texas government body, give it written notice within 6 months; a city charter can set a shorter deadline (Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 101.101).

Property damage (your car)
2 years
Injury
2 years
Law
Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.003
Small claims limit
$20,000

Claims against a government in Texas

  • To sue a Texas government body, give it written notice within 6 months; a city charter can set a shorter deadline (Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 101.101).

Deadline to sue in Texas

Texas: 2 years for property damageEnter the date of the crash to see the last day to file a lawsuit.

Protecting your deadline in Texas

  1. Deadline for both kinds of claim in Texas: 2 years.
  2. If a government was involved, act fast. To sue a Texas government body, give it written notice within 6 months; a city charter can set a shorter deadline (Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 101.101).
  3. Small claims, for car damage up to $20,000: Texas small claims guide on Small Claims Map
  4. Don't wait for the insurer: talks with an adjuster don't stop the clock.

Free help in Texas

Questions about deadlines to sue in Texas

How long do you have to sue after a car accident in Texas?

2 years from the crash, for car damage and for an injury (Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.003).

How do claims against a government work in Texas?

To sue a Texas government body, give it written notice within 6 months; a city charter can set a shorter deadline (Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 101.101).

What is the small claims limit in Texas?

$20,000 in Justice Court.

More for Texas drivers

Nearby states

Sources

Last checked: Oct 24, 2026.